Everything about Millwall totally explained
» For the football team, see Millwall F.C..
Millwall is an area in
London, on the western side of the
Isle of Dogs, in the
London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It lies to the south of the developments at
West India Docks, including
Canary Wharf.
History
Originally known as
Marshwall, its name derives from the large number of
windmills built on the river wall, in the
19th century. Corn was brought along the
River Thames to be ground into flour here, before being delivered to
bakers who
kneaded the
dough.
On
January 31,
1858, the largest ship of that time, the
SS Great Eastern designed by
Isambard Kingdom Brunel, was launched from the yard of
Messrs J Scott Russell & Co, of Millwall. The 211 metre (692 ft) length was too wide for the river, and the ship had to be launched sideways.
The launch site is preserved at the modern Napier Avenue, itself named after
David Napier, the previous occupier of the yard. Due to the technical difficulties of the launch, this was the last ship of such a size to be built on the Island, though other builders such as
Yarrows and
Samuda Brothers continued building warships on the island for another 50 years.
In the 1860s the large
Millwall Dock was built, extending from the Thames at Millwall into the centre of the Isle of Dogs. The spoil from the dock was left as the
Mudchute.
During the 19th century, the area now called
Island Gardens was referred to as
North Greenwich, for the
North Greenwich railway station, that was opened in 1872 to connect with the ferry that was the forerunner of the
Greenwich foot tunnel. The
Greenwich peninsula, previously East Greenwich, is now also known by this epithet for the
North Greenwich tube station.
Millwall is arguably most famous for its football club,
Millwall F.C., founded in 1885 as "Millwall Rovers" and nicknamed "The
Dockers", (changed to "The Lions" in 1900) which moved south of the river to
New Cross in 1910, after occupying no fewer than four separate grounds in the 25 years since its formation as a football club. They now play in
Bermondsey.
Millwall
Rugby football Club was formed in 1995. From humble beginnings the club has gone from strength to strength. There is a very successful first team (having gained 4 promotions in 6 seasons) and a second team (known as the Llamas) and a third team, all of which meet regularly during the season. The first team enjoys a good status in the
Essex Division 2 league and the Llamas are in the Essex Merit Table (Division 4), while the Thirds are playing in the Merit Table (Division 5) having won Division 6 last season. They now also have women's rugby - the Millwall Venus girls - and a thriving Youth section catering for boys and girls from 8 years old.
Like other parts of the
Isle of Dogs, substantial redevelopment has been more or less ongoing since the 1980s, resulting in modern industrial and commercial buildings and hastily constructed contemporary housing beginning to dominate the remaining early 20th century "two up, two down" homes that once housed the dock workers and supporting communities of this area.
Politics
Millwall gained some notoriety when, in a council by-election in 1993,
Derek Beackon won the
British National Party's first council seat there. After a major anti-fascist campaign, the BNP lost the seat at the following full council election.
In September 2004, Tower Hamlets
Respect fought its second council election in the borough - standing local activist
Paul McGarr. In this previously solid
Labour seat, Labour were pushed into third place, and the local
Conservative party took its first ever seat on Tower Hamlets council. The Conservative vote had benefited from both the resentment of the original inhabitants over perceived neglect for the area by the local
Labour Council and the large number of new riverside apartments aimed at more wealthy homeowners. In the
2006 local elections, the Conservatives took all three seats, defeating former MP
Alan Amos.
Education
» For details of education in Millwall see the List of schools in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Transport
Nearest places
Further Information
Get more info on 'Millwall'.
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